Pats players ‘pulling for’ reinstated WR Gordon

Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who released a brief statement earlier on Saturday, said he wouldn’t comment further on Gordon.

Per the conditions of his reinstatement, Gordon can officially join the Patriots on Sunday but won’t be allowed to play in the team’s home preseason game on Thursday against the Carolina Panthers.

“Obviously we’re excited, because we’re pulling for him. We love him,” said safety Duron Harmon, who enters his seventh season with the Patriots. “We always want the best for him, more than anything. He’s a part of this team, a brother of ours. We’re looking forward to seeing him on Sunday.”

Harmon and Slater both stressed that their primary concern for Gordon is his well-being, not football.

“We’re more concerned with him as a person,” Slater said. “Football is great and all, but nobody plays football forever. Life goes on well past the game of football, and we want to see him be successful in his individual life, and hopefully we can do our part in supporting him along the way.”